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This submit was initially revealed in August 2015. It has been up to date with new info and republished.
With the entire blended details about uncooked feeding, there are lots of pet mother and father who’re understandably fearful about transitioning their canines to a uncooked weight loss program. Years in the past, in a submit, I said that the remembers are about people, not about canines. The micro organism in uncooked pet food poses a danger to…
- kids who might contact or eat uncooked pet food and never wash their fingers
- individuals who have an auto-immune illness and are discouraged from dealing with uncooked meat by their doctor
- canines with a compromised immune system
I am undecided about that final one as a result of I do know canine house owners who’re elevating canines residing with most cancers, and so they feed uncooked. Nevertheless, most cancers is not the one sickness that can result in a compromised immune system. Working with a holistic veterinarian skilled in canine vitamin and uncooked feeding is necessary.
That being mentioned, salmonella and different micro organism aren’t solely present in uncooked pet food.
My Canines Dined on a Useless Rabbit for 4 Days
Years in the past, I discovered that my canines had been taking turns snacking on a useless rabbit for 4 days. Yep. 4 days. I used to be understandably disgusted, however I noticed this as a studying alternative too.
I am undecided what killed the rabbit. I am unable to think about that it was a coyote that left the rabbit behind. Perhaps an eagle or hawk dropped the rabbit? I have never a clue, however our canines have been very interested by one part of our yard. I did not pay it any thoughts – they’re canines and like to odor every thing, and I figured they’d picked up on a scent that was the perfect ever – canines will probably be canines.
A day later, I turned involved after I seen Rodrigo chewing one thing on the bottom. I noticed that it was a useless animal, assumed “rabbit” due to the dimensions, and as a substitute of burying it (I did not wish to see it shut up), I used “Go away It” and targeted the canines on one other a part of our property.
A few days later, I seen that they have been sneaking again to the rabbit for a snack, so I went to bury the carcass. Yep, it was a rabbit.
Our candy, joyful canines have been smiling and wagging their tails, and I needed to snigger. Sure, that is gross, however they’re canines, and I assume that is what canines typically do. Not less than it wasn’t poop, proper?
Can Canines Eat Roadkill?
Technically, the rabbit carcass wasn’t roadkill, however you get it, proper?
I did a Google search – yeah, tremendous dependable – and examine “Roadkill Delicacies” and roadkill being utilized in pet meals. I used to be shocked by how troublesome it was to search out any details about the risks of canines consuming roadkill. I requested across the uncooked feeding neighborhood and acquired many alternative solutions there too. For those who hit a deer, there are occasions when you possibly can take it dwelling and butcher it up for the canines (examine your native legal guidelines first). Learn extra under.
However again to our useless rabbit, in addition to the truth that it is gross that my canines have been consuming this useless rabbit in the course of the hottest month of the 12 months, roadkill may be spoiled and teeming with micro organism and worms. So, I figured that the perfect factor to do is to take away entry to “roadkill.”
However Some Uncooked Feeders Feed Roadkill
I do know loads of uncooked feeders on-line who feed roadkill to their canines when it is obtainable. Largely deer, rabbits, and squirrels are the animals I’ve seen listed in uncooked feeding teams. The distinction, I realized from fellow uncooked feeders, is that the roadkill is recent, not one thing hanging round for days on finish in the summertime.
I’d have anticipated Rodrigo, our most delicate canine, to get sick. He ate probably the most and beloved it. He did not vomit, have unfastened stool or diarrhea, and by no means had gasoline. He was simply wonderful. How can this be? I anticipated explosive diarrhea and worms. Nothing occurred. My canines have been wonderful.
I do not plan to encourage my canines to dine out on days-old roadkill, however I am glad that it labored out okay for our canines.
If My Canines Can Survive Roadkill, They Can Survive Uncooked Meals
So the useless rabbit snack the canines have been having fun with (yuck! nature is horrifying) acquired me fascinated with previous uncooked remembers. If our canines can deal with snacking on roadkill for days within the useless of summer time, then they’ll deal with uncooked pet food.
Nevertheless, I do not plan to start out feeding roadkill anytime quickly.
Quick ahead to the Summer time of 2020, and our latest member of the family, Apollo, modified my world and the way I have a look at my canines. After a coordinated effort of 4 canines, my candy infants cornered a rabbit, and my little boy, Apollo, snatched it up and ate it alive. It was probably the most surprising expertise I’ve had with my canines, and I hope to by no means repeat it. Watching this occur gave me a brand new respect for my canines and solidified a number of issues for me:
- My canines are facultative carnivores; whereas they’re going to choose berries off my bushes and apples from our bushes, they’re going to additionally hunt and kill prey for a meal.
- A uncooked meals weight loss program is biologically acceptable for my canines – not kibble, not a plant-based weight loss program – FRESH RAW FOOD!
- Though my canines are probably the most lovable infants on the planet, they’re additionally animals, and it is necessary that I respect their species, breed, and nature.
What About Rabbit Hemorrhagic Illness?
I just lately realized a couple of illness that’s making its approach by way of the rabbit inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Illness is attributable to a virus and is impacting domesticated rabbits. It has been detected on Vancouver Island (Canada) and surrounding areas, and somebody talked about to me just lately that in 2019 RHD was detected in Washington State.
This illness is very contagious; nonetheless, the Van Isle Veterinary Hospital says, “[t]he illness doesn’t have an effect on people or different species together with canines and cats.” It is necessary to know that neither freezing nor warmth kills the virus. Though RHD hasn’t been tied to wild rabbits, I do not see how they are often immune. If somebody abandons or loses a rabbit that may be a service and that rabbit comes into contact with wild rabbits, then the illness will unfold, proper? Though it is mentioned that canines cannot contract RHD, I’ve determined to achieve out to my two rabbit sources to study extra about how they’re preserving their rabbits secure from this virus.
What I Do When My Canines Eat Prey
Though I have been assured many instances that my canines will probably be wonderful in the event that they eat prey, I nonetheless do a number of issues simply in case:
- Look ahead to a change in habits which will signify that my canines are sick.
- Take note of canine poop – worms, diarrhea, constipation.
- Add floor pumpkin seeds to their weight loss program as a pure dewormer for 3 days – 1/2 tsp per meal (my canines weigh between 50-75 lbs).
- I examine the yard earlier than releasing the canines to make sure child birds and bunnies aren’t hopping round.
Learn Extra About Canine Well being and Uncooked Feeding